Midwifery: A Path Forward: Updating an old profession for a new age.
A transformative workshop for birth professionals ready to build sustainable practices.
What This Workshop Is About
Midwifery has deep roots in tradition, but it must evolve to survive.
In this engaging, evidence-informed, and deeply personal session, midwife and maternal health systems expert Sarah Foster, LM, CPM, MA-MCHS, guides participants through a powerful exploration of how midwifery can thrive in today’s market economy without losing its soul.
Together, we’ll explore:
- Why midwifery was excluded from the labor movement, and what that means today
- The real causes of burnout in solo practice
- What sustainability really means in a modern birth practice
- How to set client expectations around availability and back-up care
- Practical models for collaboration, call-sharing, and conflict management
What You’ll Learn
By the end of this workshop, you’ll be able to:
Understand the historical and economic context that shaped modern midwifery
Identify which traditional models support sustainability, and which no longer serve us
Set clear, respectful expectations with clients around availability and care continuity
Create systems for back-up and peer collaboration
Manage inter-professional disagreements, like those you might have with your back-up or partners, with clarity and professionalism
Begin to redesign your practice to support your health, your household, and your future
About the Presenter
Sarah Foster, LM, CPM, MA-MCHS, is a licensed midwife and maternal-child health systems expert based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. With over two decades of experience, she operates a thriving birth center staffed by a collaborative team of midwives. Sarah brings warmth, wit, and systemic insight to every conversation about midwifery, and has been instrumental in state-level legislation, national advocacy, and international dialogue on sustainable care models.
“Burning out doesn’t make you more dedicated, it just makes you more likely to leave. We can’t help people if we can’t keep midwifing.”
— Sarah Foster
Continuing Education Credits
This course has been previously approved for CEU/CPD credits by:
- Midwifery Education Accreditation Council (MEAC)
- American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM)
- Australian College of Midwives (ACM)
CEUs are available upon completion.
Host This Workshop
This presentation is ideal for:
- Midwifery conferences & retreats
- Continuing education events
- State or national professional development gatherings
- Birth center staff trainings
- Midwifery schools & student intensives
Length: 90–120 minutes
Format: In-person or virtual
Includes: Presentation slides, handouts, reflection prompts, and optional follow-up session
Book or Learn More
To host Midwifery: A Path Forward or inquire about availability:
📧 Email: sarah.foster@tulsabirthcenter.com
📘 Facebook: FindSarahFoster
Let’s grow a profession that sustains us as well as our clients.